Live concert photography of Anthony OKS performing at the Canada Block Party during 2023's New Colossus Festival.

Live Concert Photography: The New Colossus Festival 2023: Day 2: 3/9/23: Canada Block Party Presented by CIMA, The Consulate General of Canada in NY, Alberta Music, Manitoba Music, MusicBC, MusicOntario, Music Nova Scotia and Sask Music at Piano’s feat. Anthony OKS

Co-founded back in 2018 by three New York music industry vets and longtime friends, former Lorimer Beacon founder and head Mike Bell, Kanine Records‘ founder and label head Lio Kanine and Kepler Events‘ and Dedstrange Records co-founder Steven Matrick, The New Colossus Festival over the course of the past couple of years has featured several hundred handpicked, emerging indie bands and artists from Canada, the UK, the European Union, Singapore, Hong Kong and of course, the US.

Since its founding, the festival has quickly established itself as the first stop in New York and in the US for a growing number of emerging and buzz worthy for a growing number of emerging and buzz worthy international artists. Notable festival alumni include a number of JOVM mainstays including GIFT, Penelope Isles, The Orielles, Thus Love, as well as Pom Poko, Pom Pom Squad, Sid Simons, Sobs, Water From Your Eyes, Peel Dream Magazine, Kiwi Jr., and a growing list of others.

The festival’s fourth edition took place between March 8, 2023 – March 12, 2023 in some of the Lower East Side’s renowned independent music venues, including Mercury Lounge, Berlin Under A, Arlene’s Grocery, The Bowery Electric, Pianos, and more.

The 2023 edition’s second day, March 9, 2023 included a stop at Piano’s for The Canada Block Party, which featured Canadian acts performing sets at neighboring clubs Piano’s and Arlene’s Grocery and was presented by Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA), The Consulate General of Canada in New York, Alberta Music, Manitoba Music, MusicBC, MusicOntario, Music Nova Scotia and Sask Music. I was looking forward to catching Winnipeg-based emcee Anthony OKS, who caught my attention with 2021’s In the Garden EP.